The introduction of the Concacaf Champions League taxes the participating MSL teams in 2008. The international schedule only gets worse next year when the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup are added to the mix.

Pia Sundhage, a guitar-playing, folk song-singing Swede, guided the U.S. women to Olympic gold one year after their World Cup debacle. The feat came despite the absence of four key veterans and an opening-game loss in China.

The USA will attempt to qualify for the 2009 Under-20 World Cup at Concacaf qualifying next spring in Trinidad. Here's a look at some of the top U-20 prospects - none of whom advanced through the traditional development stage from U-17 residency to the U-20 team.

The second year of designated players was also the first year of liberalized rules regarding limits on foreign player. With some teams overloaded by games in different competitions, many MLS teams relied on youngsters to get the job done.